Alcohol Abuse Programs

Alcohol abuse programs make recovery from alcohol abuse possible. There are many alcohol abuse programs available for those who want to recover from the problems created by alcohol abuse. These alcohol abuse programs are designed to teach you in a very clear manner exactly how to become a sober, happy person.

An alcohol abuse programs are a multi-step process. Recovery from alcohol is getting stable as well as staying stable in ones life, long after leaving a treatment program. Individuals who are recovering from alcohol abuse first need to realize that they have a problem and are willing to work towards a solution. Alcohol recovery may require long term treatment, but varies on the individual and their alcohol history.

The different types of alcohol abuse programs depend upon the degree of dependence and the patient's social situation. Some alcohol abuse programs have medical components, to ease the symptoms of withdrawal, intensive counseling, and methods that address underlying causes of addiction. In general, one can differentiate between alcohol abuse programs with in-patient, or residential, requirements versus out-patient alcohol abuse programs.

Different types of alcohol abuse programs rely on contrasting philosophies on the nature of addiction, available resources, and the degree of cooperation from the patient. The medical, psychological, and law enforcement communities disagree on which alcohol abuse programs are most successful, therefore there are a variety of paths towards alcohol abuse recovery. While varied, these paths go through similar stages, beginning with detoxification, going through therapy, and ending in integration into employment and housing.

Alcohol Abuse Programs - Detoxification

Often, every type of alcohol abuse programs start in a medical setting so health professionals can oversee the alcohol detoxification process and the person is no longer physically dependent upon alcohol. Under supervision, the patient's side effects can be tempered by medication, as well as proper nutrition and sleep. This interventionary stage is rarely enough to allow a patient to fully recover from alcohol abuse, for there is no psychological element.

Inpatient Alcohol Abuse Programs

A residential, in-patient alcohol abuse program provides full-time supervision in a tightly controlled environment. Living in a facility associated with a hospital, psychiatric center, or community outreach center, provides underlying support with meal plans and housing. These types of alcohol abuse programs usually involve a short, interventionary program, often as little as 30 days, with the expectation that the alcoholic will continue treatment in an outpatient setting. Inpatient alcohol abuse programs are for those who have had serious alcohol problems for many years, have already tried to and failed to get sober or who feel that they would not have the support or strength to complete an outpatient alcohol abuse program.

Outpatient Alcohol Abuse Programs

Some other intensive types of alcohol abuse programs rely on voluntarily attended out-patient treatment, which means patients live and work on their own. They attend meetings, counseling sessions, or classes designed to equip the alcoholic with new coping mechanisms so that when they encounter stress, they no longer turn to alcohol abuse. This includes 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, that have a strong spiritual basis. Alcohol abuse programs of this sort could be official, with a trained counselor present during group therapy, or casual, in a community setting. Out patient alcohol abuse programs are ideal for patients that have less severe alcohol addictions, or possibly who are on the second stage of recovery after an inpatient alcohol abuse program.

Long Term Residential Alcohol Abuse Programs

Finally, there are a few types of alcohol abuse programs that attempt to address the underlying causes of alcoholism and repeated relapse, such as estrangement from family and friends, no support system, low employment skills, mental illness, and living in a community united solely by alcoholics. This holistic approach to alcohol abuse includes halfway houses and community centers, where an alcoholic acquires job skills, practical advice, and has enough time to completely remove themselves from old acquaintances. Such a facility often allows patients to stay for an extended period of time, such as six to twelve months, until they are confident they can function independently without returning to alcohol abuse.

Christian Alcohol Abuse Programs

For many patients participating in a christian or faith based program offers additional benefits and allows them to draw strength from their faith.

Adolescent Alcohol Abuse Programs

Although it is not something we would expect but teenage alcoholism is on the rise and there are some great programs created especially to help treat and deal with the problems of adolescent alcohol abuse.